In 1756 the Jackson family left a simple cottage at Bonnybefore on the road to Carrickfergus and sailed for America. The following year their son Andrew was born. He was to become a lawyer, senator, judge, military commander at the Battle of New Orleans and eventually the seventh President of the U.S.A..
THE AMERICAN CONNECTION

Within a few miles of Ballyclare are places with American links

On the Green Road in Ballyclare is Clements Hill which was the family home of Samuel Langhorne Clemens who took the pen name of Mark Twain. In one book he talks of the valley in County Antrim they left behind

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Jane Houston left her home near Ballynure in 1735 with her sons to go to America. Generations later Sam Houston became the hero of Texas and gave his name to a town and a space station. The first word spoken on the moon was the name of that poor widow from Ballynure in County Antrim "Houston - the Eagle has landed."

Three generations of the Macomb family from Ballynure made a major mark in American history

The Graham family left Ballyeaston and became involved in the range wars in Arizona

Click links to read the stories of these people from our area who found fame in America